Archive for January, 2015

By Diana: A feast of fifties music delighted Glossopdale WI on Wednesday, starting with Elvis Presley’s spectacular breakthrough recording of ‘Heartbreak Hotel’ and proceeding through the great hits from white musicians in the US and the UK. Older members reminisced, younger members were enlightened – all were tapping their feet in time with the music.

Presenter Bill Judd, a lifetime fan of rock and roll, pointed out the origins of rock music with black musicians early in the century: the first mention was in 1922 in a Memphis recording arranged by Ike Turner. It did not take off as mainstream American pop, though, until Elvis and others such as Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison and Buddy Holly burst on the scene. It was certainly not to everyone’s taste: Frank Sinatra described it as degenerate and headteachers forbade its performance in schools. Rock and roll singers in the UK largely copied their American models, although skiffle singers such as Lonnie Donegan had a similar rawness to the early rock.

On a cold January morning a session of lively rock music was just the thing to warm us all up.

Glossopdale WI’s next meeting is on Wed Feb 18 at 9.30 at the Labour Club. Visitors and new members welcome.